X t thirds to j



2 sheets-sheet 1.

G. R. SMITH.

(No Model.)

HARNESS.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. R. SMITH.

.'HARNBSS.

Patented July 27, 1897;` Y

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UNITED STATES PATENT EEicE.1

GEORGE R. SMITH, OF Sl-IELBYVILLE, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF TVO- THIRDS TO J. W. BUTCH AND JAS. A. VIGHT, OF SAME PLACE.

HARNESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 586,978, dated July 27, 1897'.

Appiimion flied August s, 1896. senti Nol 602,126. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern'.-

Beit known that l, GEORGE R. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Shelbyville, in the county of Shelby and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Harness, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to harness for sulkies and other light road and track vehicles espe- 1o cially constructed for attaining speed and impeding the freelnovement of the horse as little as possible.

For a full understanding of the merits and advantages of the invention reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings and the following description.

The improvement is susceptible of various `changes in the form, proportion, and the rninor details of construction without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and to a full disclosure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in l which- Figure 1 shows the invention applied. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the harness. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the coupling which connects the neck-yoke, the girth, and the traces.

'3o Corresponding and like parts are referred 1; 'with the girth 2.

'.10 in the following description and indicated in the several views ofthe accompanying drawings by the same reference-characters.

The harness-saddle lis of usual construction and is connected in the ordinary way The girth is provided at intervals in its length on the outer side with loops 3, through which pass the shaft-straps 4, the latter consisting practically of a sin- -,-40 gle strap having its middle portion passing 5o of a series of straps placed together and secured by stitching or in any convenient way.

Loops 7 are located at intervals in the length of the coupling, and the loose end portion of the martin gales 8 or neck-yoke 9 passes therethrough after being engaged with the buckle at the front end of the coupling. The traces or draft-straps 10, like the shaft-straps, are formed of a single strap which passes loosely through the loop '6 of the coupling, and these traces are intended to be engaged with the shafts about six or eight inches in the rear of the shaft-tugs. The neck-yoke 9 and martingales 8 are secured together at their lower rear ends in any approved manner which will admit of them being relatively adj usted, and one or the other is continued to the rear, so as to make adjustable connection with the coupling 5, thereby admitting of the harness being tted to different-sized horses. The neck-yoke receives the head of the horse, which is passed therethrough, and is suspended from the Withers, the upper portion resting upon the Withers being widened or provided with a strap of sufficient width to `prevent galling and @hating of the animal.

A retaining-strap 11 engages with the upper portion of the neck yoke, and is secured thereto in any convenient way and isadapted to be engaged with the check-hook of the harness-saddle, so as to retain the neck-yoke in proper position when the harness is in service.

The turn-back or crupper strap 12 has attachment with the saddle in the usual way, and the breeching-straps 13 have connection therewith at a point about midway of its ends, and these straps 13 extend forwardly and have adjustable connection withthe shafttugs 14, whereby any relative forward movement-of the sulky is prevented and chang of the animal obviated. The shaft-tugs 14 have front and rear loops 15, to which the breeching-straps are attached, and the provision of the two loops enables the tugs to be placed upon either side of the harness.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In harness, the combination of a saddle, a girth connected therewith, a coupling composed of a series of layers and having a loop at its rearend and a buckle at its front end, a shaft-strap secured to the girth and passing transversely between the layers of the coup- IOO ling to connect the latter with the girth, trac-.es consisting of a strap passing through the loop at the rear end of the coupling, and a neckyoke and martin gales connected together at their lower ends and having the lower portion of one extended to the rear and adjustably connected with the front end of the said coupling, substantially as set forth.

2. The herein-described harness, comprising a saddle, a girth, a coupling composed of a series of layers and having a loop at its rear end, a buckle at its front end, and loops intermediate of its ends, a shaft-strap secured to the girth and passing transversely between the layers of the Coupling to connect the latter therewith, a strap passing through the loop at the rear end of the coupling and forming traces, a neck-yoke and martingales oon- In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed' my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEO. R. SMlTII.

lVitnesses:

J. S. BOYD, J. II. HARTFORD. 

